Popular translations of the Bible are too generic for anyone to reach a definitive interpretation and often perpetuate old concepts. Tim Seid takes a bold approach to Christian origins and offers fresh translations of the earliest of the New Testament authors.
In the first section of Rewriting Paul, Seid explains the foundation for a new understanding of Paul who remains a committed Jew but announces to the gentile peoples the good news that God has overlooked their sins because of the death of Jesus and has included them among the people of God. Paul writes letters of moral exhortation to household assemblies to encourage them to maintain their progress through philosophical practices to reach their greatest potential in a flourishing life.
Seid provides an overview of his interpretation of 1 Thessalonians, Galatians, Philippians, Philemon, and Romans based on his translations in appendix one. The paraphrase style of the translations helps the reader to see how to read Paul within this new interpretation.